Telecom Commission recommends fresh auction in 900 MHz spectrum band
17 Oct 2012
The Telecom Commission, the highest decision-making body of the Department of Telecom (DoT), has recommended that mobile phone operators surrender their spectrum holdings in the superior 900 mega hertz band at the time of renewal of licence and opt for fresh bidding – a move the incumbent mobile phone operators say will cost them an additional $24 billion.
Mobile phone operators in metro circles are expected to renew their spectrum licence in 2014 while those in other circles are due to renew licences in 2015 and 2016.
"The entire spectrum in 900 MHz will be refarmed," telecom secretary and chairman of the Telecom Commission R Chandrashekhar said today.
He said the commission also had the option of redistribution of all airwaves held by existing players or allowing the operators to retain either 2.5 MHz or 5 MHz of airwaves frequencies in the 900 MHz band.
"The commission decided that entire spectrum will be refarmed which means above 0 (MHz)," Chandrashekhar said.
This could skew the lines for major GSM players like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, as also Reliance Communications (RCom).
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